Why Delay Competitive Bidding?

In a recent statement, Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus (D-Mont.) proved he "gets it" when it comes to delaying the start of Medicare competitive bidding.

“Durable medical equipment can give seniors the freedom to live at home, and so it’s important to maintain a reliable system in Medicare to provide these vital items," Baucus said. "I am supportive of competitive bidding as a means of reducing cost, but that cannot be accomplished at the expense of low quality and inconsistent care. The competitive bidding program for durable medical equipment should stay on hold until it’s certain that seniors will get the products they need in a way that works for them.”

posted by dme alert service @ 6:55 AM 

It Seems Like Everybody is Suing CMS

Citing faulty implementation of Medicare’s competitive bidding program for durable medical equipment, prosthetics, and supplies (DMEPOS), the American Association for Homecare filed a federal lawsuit on June 9 seeking to stop the controversial bidding program.

The program affects medical equipment and services used by Medicare beneficiaries in the home including oxygen therapy, hospital beds, and power wheelchairs.

The complaint names as defendants U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Michael Leavitt and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Acting Administrator Kerry Weems.

posted by dme alert service @ 11:43 AM 

Tip Sheets for Grandfathering DMEPOS Suppliers and Referral Agents

Recently, CMS posted two new tip sheets related to competitive bidding, one on grandfathering and another for referral agents. Both tip sheets can be found on the CMS competitive bidding website at www.cms.hhs.gov/DMEPOScompetitivebid. Click on the "Provider Educational Products and Resources" tab and scroll down to the “Downloads” section.

posted by dme alert service @ 9:58 AM 

325 Suppliers to Serve How Many Beneficiaries?

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released the names of the 325 suppliers that have signed contracts with Medicare to provide certain medical equipment and supplies to beneficiaries in 10 communities across the U.S.

Find out the names of winning bidders in your Metropolitan Statistical Area.

posted by dme alert service @ 9:13 AM 

Who Won in Round One?

Based on bids submitted by these suppliers, beneficiaries and Medicare will see prices, on average, 26 percent lower than Medicare currently pays for the same items. CMS received bids from 1,005 suppliers. There were just under 6,200 bids for one or more product categories in competitive bidding areas (CBAs) where the new program is being implemented. CMS offered contracts to 23 percent of suppliers that submitted bids. These suppliers were in the winning price range and met quality and financial standards and disclosure requirements. Sixty-one percent of the bids submitted were priced higher than the winning range, and just over half of these high-priced submissions were disqualified because they failed to meet other bid requirements. The remaining 16 percent of bids would have been in the winning range had they not been disqualified.

posted by dme alert service @ 6:31 AM 

Medicare Announces Winning Suppliers for Round I; Extends Accreditation Deadline for Round II

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released the names of the 325 suppliers that have signed contracts with Medicare to provide certain medical equipment and supplies to beneficiaries in 10 communities across the U.S. The new competitive bidding program goes into effect on July 1, 2008.

CMS also announced that it is extending the deadline for suppliers in the 70 second round metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs) to become accredited. CMS is extending the deadline because a significant number of suppliers in those communities have not yet applied for accreditation.

Suppliers must be accredited or have applied for accreditation by July 21, 2008, (formerly May 14, 2008), and the final accreditation deadline for the second round of competitive bidding is now January 14, 2009, a change from the October 31, 2008 deadline.

To read the entire CMS Press release issued Monday, please go here: http://www.cms.hhs.gov/apps/media/press_releases.asp

posted by dme alert service @ 6:53 AM 

Stark Seeks to Block 'Flawed and Lousy' Competitive Bidding Program

Calling the program “somewhere between flawed and lousy,” House Ways and Means Health Subcommittee Chairman Fortney “Pete” Stark (D-Calif.), said he was unsure if repeal legislation could pass this year. Round I of the program is set to take effect July 1 in 10 MSAs. However, he added he would work with the industry to try to block competitive bidding, despite the costs of ending the program.

posted by dme alert service @ 6:38 AM